Public Notices

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz will deliver the 2018 State of the City Address at the Ohio Theatre and Event Center at 6 p.m. February 22, 2018.The annual State of the City brings business, community…Read More →

Storm Water Program

What is Stormwater?

Stormwater is water that originates from rainfall or snowmelt. Stormwater runoff is generated when precipitation flows over impervious surfaces (rooftops, buildings streets, and parking lots). Stormwater runoff can pick up pollutants such as sediment, oil, pesticides, and nutrients and can carry these pollutants untreated by curbs, open drainage ways, and storm sewers directly into local streams and rivers.

Polluted stormwater runoff is a leading cause of surface water pollution in the United States and stormwater that does not penetrate into the ground has the potential to adversely affect local water quality and can contribute to localized flooding and increased sediment loading in our ditches, streams, rivers and lakes.

Additionally, uncontrolled illicit discharges, such as sewage and illegal dumping of waste material into the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4); could cause fish kills, destruction of aquatic habitat and contamination of drinking water supplies and recreational waterways.

City of Toledo Stormwater Management Program

Stormwater management aims to both reduce the quantity and improve the quality of stormwater runoff. As mandated, the City is required to develop, implement and enforce on its MS4 Stormwater Management Program to comply with coverage under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) Phase I MS4 Permit, issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The Division of Environmental Services, Stormwater Section, manages all stormwater entering into the City’s storm system and is the owner of the city’s NPDES Phase I l MS4 Permit. Alongside this the City of Toledo must incorporate eight minimum control measures to protect water resources and address stormwater quality.

The eight MS4 Permit Minimum Control Measures include:

Public Education and Outreach

Public Involvement and Participation

Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE)

Construction Site Runoff Controls

Post-Construction Site Runoff Controls

Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping for Municipal Operations

Industrial/ Commercial Facilities Program

Monitoring Requirements

The Division of Environmental Services works diligently to meet all necessary program requirements and through Chapter 941 of the Toledo Municipal Code (TMC), staff has the authorization to implement and enforce on all stormwater discharges within city limits. These are just some of the measures taken by Environmental Services to protect one of our most precious and valuable resource. Our Water!

To report a STORMWATER problem within the City of Toledo, call the Division of Environmental Services at 419-936-3015 or report a concern 24hr a day to Engage Toledo 419-936-2020